An American-led fracking crew working deep in the Serbian wilderness find themselves at odds with government assigned environmental advisors. When they get approval to drill, the workers uncover the unimaginable: a dormant parasitic monster entombed deep in the frozen rock. Now awakened, it tears through the mining facility in search of the perfect host.
With Hell Hole, the Adams Family delivers a creature movie that combines old-fashioned horror, science fiction and contemporary considerations. So, I take a look at this latest creation from the family so beloved by horror fans.
From Fantasia to Shudder, pleasing the fans
Hell hole, which had its world premiere at the last Fantasia festival, is coming to Shudder, and it will be a great opportunity for Adams family fans to see this new work. The filmmakers are regulars at Fantasia, having presented all their films there, including Where the devil roams last year.
So it’s with a story that’s a little absurd, resolutely mutinous and at times comic and transgressive that John and Toby strike this time (without Zelda, by the way). In typical John and Toby fashion, the story aims to subvert the genre. In this case, they do so with textures of biological and environmental horror in tandem with questions of gender and bodily autonomy.
Mixing old and new
If there’s one thing that stands out about Hell hole, it’s how well it manages to integrate old and new, and not just in its themes. The creature effects were created by Todd Masters, a 35-year veteran of monster and prosthetic make-up effects, and his studio MASTERSFX, with Trey Lindsay of Moondog Pictures (Hellbender, Where the Devil Roams) overseeing the visual effects and Serbian studio Cinergy FX (Hellraiser) contributing additional blood and make-up effects.
In this way, the older techniques of hand-made make-up and prosthetics are combined with digitally created effects. Even better, the digital effects are not overused. The duo understand that these effects are most effective when used sparingly.
This mix also led the Adamses to work with a large team for the very first time.
“Known for our DIY ethos, we have always worked as a solitary unit, wearing every hat in the making of our feature films. […] For the very first time we got to work with a crew 10 times the size of our usual intimate family shoots.”
John Adams & Toby Poser
That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about the movies from this family. They’re made with practical effects rather than a ton of digital effects. And personally, I find that these effects allow the viewer to believe much more in what they’re seeing. We shouldn’t minimize their importance when the story isn’t that realistic.
A little more…
I mentioned the modern, contemporary aspect a little earlier… By setting its story on an oil site where environmentalists and capitalists rub shoulders, the film offers an opportunity to reflect on our social choices.
Increasingly, we are aware of the microbiological dangers that accompany our obsession with over-enrichment, especially when it comes to digging up the soil and the thawing effects of global warming. Although current reality points to a danger from viruses, the idea of being invaded by an unknown “parasite” remains credible.
By adding the idea that this creature might need a male host to incubate its baby, the work touches on gender issues that are – perhaps too – topical. So, without turning it into an ideological battle, we plant a seed…
In the end, while the work doesn’t revolutionize the genre, it’s a must-see for anyone interested in horror cinema. It might just whet your appetite for other films from this creative family.
